Chan Buddhism first slipped across the Yellow Sea into Korea during the 8th century, carried by traveling monks and diplomatic missions between the Tang court and the Silla kingdom. Early Seon pioneers like Beomnang and the Indian‐born Vinītaruci studied under Chinese masters before planting seeds at Neunggasa and other mountain temples. Royal patronage and the simplicity of seated meditation quickly resonated with Korean elites, helping Seon take root and flourish alongside existing schools of doctrine.

A few centuries later, Japan caught the Chan wave. In 1191, the monk Eisai returned from Song China brimming with Linji (Rinzai) teachings, sparking a Zen revival among samurai and courtiers. His green‐tea ritual became more than a late‐night pick-me-up—it embodied a meditation‐infused way of life. Shortly after, Dōgen’s pilgrimage to Caodong (Sōtō) monasteries yielded a new Japanese branch emphasizing zazen as the very heart of practice. His master’s simple admonition—“just sit”—reverberates in Zen centers worldwide today.

Vietnam’s Thiền tradition sprouted in the 6th and 7th centuries via Chinese émigré monks like Wu Yantong and the aforementioned Vinītaruci. Under Ly and Trần dynasties, nine Thiền schools emerged, weaving Chan’s “pointing directly to the mind” ethos into Vietnamese court life. Ancient temple grounds in Huế still host meditation retreats that echo Song-era methods.

Modern mindfulness apps, weekend Zen workshops and virtual retreats—especially those booming since the pandemic—trace their DNA back to this chain of transmission. From misty Korean mountain hermitages to Kyoto’s rock gardens and Vietnamese riverside cloisters, Chan’s journey shows how a few determined travelers can spark a global meditation movement.